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Άσπρο τραντάφυλλο φορώ
I’m wearing a white rose I am, I dearly wish to dye it;
and if I’m lucky with the dyes, how many hearts I’ll kindle.
I’ll kindle lasses young and old, I’ll kindle stalwart laddies;
I’ll kindle even a young priest, so he’ll lose the Gospel-book;
I’ll kindle too the village head, so he’ll lose the village rolls;
I’ll kindle that young cowherd lad, so he’ll lose his herd of cows;
We welcome Lazarus who brings along with him good tidings,
the harbinger of Easter Day and cries of “Christ is Risen!”
Translated by John Leatham
Άσπρο τραντά- τραντάφυλλο φορώ,
ν-άσπρο τραντάφυλλο φορώ, βολιούμι να το βάψω,
βολιούμι να το βάψ’·
κι αν τ’ απιτύχω ρούσα μ’ στις μπογιές,
κι αν τ’ απιτύχω στις μπογιές, πολλές καρδιές θα κάψω.
Θα κάψω νιες, θα κάψω γριές, θα κάψω παλληκάρια,
πολλές καρδιές θα κάψ’·
θα κάψω κι έναν νιο παπά, να χάσει τα ευαγγέλια·
θα κάψω και τον πρόεδρο, να χάσει τα τιφτέρια·
θα κάψω και το γιλαδάρ’, να χάσει τα γιλάδια·
Καλώς μας ήρθ’ ο Λάζαρος με τον καλό το λόγο,
με την καλή την Πασκαλιά, με το «Χριστός Ανέστη!»
The dance is part of the ceremony “Lazarines” in Agia Paraskevi, Kozani, performed on Lazarus Saturday. It is danced by the “Lazarines” around a decorated basket.
The Lazarines first go to the church and sing in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary on the iconostasis. Then, they visit every house in the village, singing different carols at each one, depending on the social, family, or professional status of the owners (carols for the priest, the clerk, the unmarried, the emigrant, etc.). At each house, they distribute a piece of Lazaropita (Lazarus pie). After the carolling, the Lazarines gather in the village square, place their baskets in the centre, and start a dance that lasts until evening. At night, they gather at the “konaki” (village lodge), where they eat the pie and then have fun playing games, teasing one another, and singing.
Kostas Chrisakis (2023)
Based on Domna Samiou’s 1996 field recording of the song in Agia Paraskevi, Kozani.
Singers
